Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell

Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell PC (Ire) (1665 – 4 August 1720),[1] known as Sir Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baronet from 1681 to 1717, was an Irish peer and politician.

Thomas, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress (Balthasar Denner)

Background edit

He was the oldest son of Richard Southwell, son of Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet, and his wife Lady Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.[2] His younger brothers were William Southwell and Richard Southwell.[3] In 1681, his father having predeceased him, Southwell succeeded his grandfather as baronet.[4] During the Glorious Revolution of 1689, after he led an unsuccessful rising in County Galway, he and his brother were attainted by the parliament of King James II of England.[5] Southwell was also imprisoned, but was released and pardoned the following year.[5]

Career edit

In 1695, Southwell entered the Irish House of Commons for County Limerick, representing it until 1713.[6] He was returned for the constituency again from 1715 until August 1717,[6] when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Southwell, of Castle Mattress, in the County of Limerick.[7] In 1697, Southwell became a Commissioner of the Revenue, however resigned in 1712.[5] He was reappointed two years later and held this post until his death in 1720.[5] In May 1710, Southwell was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.[8]

Family edit

In April 1696, he married Lady Meliora Coningsby, eldest daughter of Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby and his first wife Barbara Gorges.[4] They had six sons and five daughters.[4] Southwell died at Dublin and was buried at Rathkeale.[9] He was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Thomas.[10] His second son Henry also sat in the Parliament of Ireland.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ "Leigh Rayment – Peerage". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Burke, John (1863). Bernhard Burke (ed.). Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. II. London: Harrison. p. 1738.
  3. ^ "ThePeerage – Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress". Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Burke, John (1832). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Vol. II (4th ed.). London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley. p. 465.
  5. ^ a b c d Lodge, John (1789). Mervyn Archdall (ed.). The Peerage of Ireland or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. Vol. VI. Dublin: James Moore. pp. 17–25.
  6. ^ a b "Leigh Rayment – Irish House of Commons 1692–1800". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "No. 5565". The London Gazette. 17 August 1717. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Leigh Rayment – Privy Council of Ireland". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ a b "Southwell, Thomas (1667-1720)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. Pages 303–304.
  10. ^ Lodge, Edmund (1838). The Genealogy of the Existing British Peerage (6th ed.). London: Saunder and Otley. pp. 462.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Limerick
1695–1713
With: Sir William King 1695–1703
Charles Oliver 1703–1707
George Evans 1707–1713
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Limerick
1715–1717
With: Robert Oliver
Succeeded by
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Baron Southwell
1717–1720
Succeeded by
Baronetage of Ireland
Preceded by Baronet
(of Castle Mattress)
1681–1720
Succeeded by